Indicating valve stem



Aug. 3 1926 K. STUART INDICATING vVALVE STEM 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June27, 1925 mulllf' 2 Sheets-Shoot 2- K. B. .STUART i I'HDICATING VALYESTEM Filed June 2'7 1925 Aug. 3 1926.

Patented Aug. 3, 1926.

KENNETH BARTON STUART, OF COLOR-ADO SBRINGS, COLORADO.

INDICATING VALVE STEM.

Application lcd June 27, 1925.

liziy invention relates to .improvements in indicating valve stems inwhich the pressure within a pneumatic tire or other container holdingi'iuid under pressure is indicated consuantly to an observer without theneed ot any manipulation or use ot any exterior appliance; and some ofthe objects of my improvement are, first, to provide an automat-icindicating valve stem that will indicate automatically the iiuidpressure within the container to which it is connected operatively;second, to provide means for shutting off the outlet of Huid from saidcont-ainer on removing the valve stem; third. to provide means forregulatinp` and reducing the pressure within said container; fourth, toprovide means for not loosing the stem.

I attain these said objects by means of the appliance described in theaccompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1, is a sectional elevation, inpart, of the appliance, showing parts of the interior and exterior; Fig.2, is an elevation of part of the exterior and part of the interiorpositioned as while being charged with air; Fig. 3, is a transversesection oi' the valve stem on the line AWA in Fig. 1; Fig. 4, is adiagrammatic outer view elevation ot the appliance, approximately itsnormal size; 5, is a plan view of the flat pressure ring 1; Fig. 6, is agreater enlarged elevation of the inner part of the sliding tube 28, andits connecting parts, withvsome parts removed to disclose the partewithin.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

The central tube member 4, is threadably secured to the base tube 5, bymeans of the annular connecting nut 11, Fig. 1. On lthe top face of saidnut 11, Vis seated a coil pressure spring 2, which supports the ilatpressure ring 1, against the pressure ot the inflated elastic aircontainer 3. Mounted threadably on the annular, connecting nut 11, isthe lower casing member 7, and on the inner side of said nut isthreadably connected the base tube member 5, thus securing threadablythe parts 4, 5, 7, and 11 together as a unit. Then I have insertedwith*y in the annular' recess between casing ineinber 7 and the centraltube member 4 the elastic air container 3, with its transverselyextending annular flanges 3 in contact with and resting on providedabutments, 45 and 46, in 7, and 4, respectively. The female Serial No.39,971.

nut 1'?, is screwed down on the central tube men'iber 4 against theAinwardly extending iiange 3 compressing them against the abutment 46,and the upper tube member 6, is

screwed down into the upper end of the of the stein mechanism and hasits lower end f crimped under the abutment 45 of 7, and extended againstsaid abutment 45 by the expansion of the coil spring 9, in Fig. 1. Theswing shutter 10, pivotallysecured on the outer and open end 01"'8, at26, is adapted to close and protect the air tube .48, extendinglongitudinally through the wholelength of the valve stem, and itsseveral connected parts. i

rllhe base tube member 5, is the part secured to the inne-r tube by anyappropriate form or means desired and passes through the casinglandwheel-rim 12 or other casing and is provided to be detached from therest of thevalve stem by settingl the locking screw 44 in Fig. 4,against the an nular connecting nut 11, and turning it oi'f of themember 5, thus allowing the check valve 40, to be pressed up against itsseat 42, by the action `of the spring 43 against the cross pin 47 inthestem 39 and so shutting oli' the escape of air from the inner tube orother container upon which my inu vention is being used. Vlien the outerpart oli' the valve stem is replaced it will automatically re-open thecheck valve at 40, sov that an equal pressure willexist in the airchamber 49, and the inner tube of a tire or other container to whichthis appliance is connected. Thus the pressure of the air from the tireforces the rubberpartly en-. closing the, air chamber 49, down against'the flat presure ring 1 and forces it downward, as shown in the window19, vwhich may be covered by a transparent, member or open as desired,and its'position indicating the pressure on a' number scale on theoutside of the lower casing member 7. This.

indicator must be correct as the connection of the air is continuousfrom the inner tube through the open air tube 48 at all times while thevalve stem is on the tube, and is one of the main virtues of thisappliance.

As the air in the auto tire, or other fluid container to which thisindicating valve 4stem is connected,- may be compressed it will dilatethe elastic air container 3 and move it along the index or window 19,and if the pressure is undesirably great the operator may release someof the air by shoving` the shaft 13 downwardly, slightly. so as to forcethe sliding tube 28 into the air chamber 49 luntil the small outletholes 41, in Fig. 6, can receive the air from said air chamber 49 andallow it to escape through the opening between the gasket 20 and itsvalve seatl 21.

In the inflation of the tire, or other fluid container, through thisappliance, the air chuck member 23, secured to the air supply tube 24operatively, is pressed down against the outer end of the appliance,after the swing shutter 10, has been opened as shown in Fig. and thisforces the upper casing 8, down on the lower casing 7, and allows theouter end 25, of the upper tube 6 to project its taper sides into thechuck 23, until the shaft 13 is shoved so as to open the feed X'alve 15,when the air4 from the chuck will force the sliding tube 28 to slidedown and force its lower cn-d 29 into the receivingrecess 30, and soconduct the feed air through the inlet air tube 48,` 0n the withdrawalof the pressure from the chuck, the air from 48 will force the slidingtube 28 back to its normal position as shown in Fig. 1, and the pressurespring 14 will force the valve 15 so that the gasket 20 will shutagainst the seat 21 and the pressure in air chamber 49 will be same asin the tire, and be indicated on Athe indicating scale 50.

In releasing part of the excess pressure from atire, the operator opensthe swing shutter 10,` pivoted at 26, and the check ring 22 'willprevent it going too far as it io'n'iesinto contact with the projectingvalve Seat flange 21, whichis a formed annular integral part of thethreaded tubular casing 16, carrying the pressure spring 14.

rIhe lower extension plunger 27 at the lower end oi" shaft 13 has aplunger head 33 at its end provided to contact with the inwardly formedannular flange at the outer end of the valve tube 34, Fig. 6, whenactuatedl downwardly by the coil spring 35, eX- panding between theresisting disc 36 and the valve disc 32, which carries the gasket 3,1against the valve seat 37, which closes the air passa-ge 38, in thetaper 'end 291; forces the sliding tube v28 inwardly until the smalloutlet jhole 41 is within the air chamber 49 allowing the air to escapethrough said hole 41.

To prevent the loss of the valve `stem yby becoming detached by accidento-r by theft, I have arranged it so that the outwardly extending rim 7a,-at the base of the lower casing member 7, shown in Figs. 1 and 4, willnot pass through the hole 52, in the metal rim of the wheel upon whichthe valve stem is mounted. So it will be necessary to remove the tirewith its deinountable rim from wheel rim and then unscrew the valve stemfrom the base tube member 5 before removing the tire from theden'iountable rim, as shown in Fig. 1, where the hole 51, in thedemountable rim 12 is smaller than the diameter of the outwardlyextending nut 11; but in 4, I have shown a demountable rim 12, with ahole 51a, large enough for the whole valve stein to pass through withoutbeing dismembered. As I am not claiming` patent on the form of rim forthe tire in this application, because of division of classification, Iomit a preference in the size of the hole in the dcinountable rim, butretain the wheel rim with a hole too small for the passage of theoutwardly er1- tending rim 7a, on the lower casing member 7, for thereasons specified above, to prevent loss.

there it is required, I prefer to construct the scale 50 in a circle andhave the indci: hand actuated on a pivotal carriage by connection withsaid pressure ringl 1, instead of the longitudinal scale 50.

Having thus described my appliance, I do not wish to claim the soleinvention of valve stems, as I am aware that there are nmnberless formsof them, and that I am entitled to the public use of the generalprinciples of them and their valves, with the rest of the public, andhereinafter set forth some of the heretofore patented parts that are notcontrolled by live patents, by reason of the expiration of their LettersPatent, and which I wish to combine for a novel use, So I claim as myinvention 1. A removable locked indicating valve stem of the classdescribed, con'iprisingin combination an expandable air chamber indirect connection with the air in a pneumatic tire and comprising inpart a section of said valve stem with metallic walls and in part asection of said valve stem lined with a flexible rubber member actuatedby a pressure spring opposed to the compressed air, an indicating`member on said chambers movable end and actuated by said spring andindicating the variance of air pressure in said air chamber, a basemember connectied in juxtaposition with the pneumatic tire, a shut-olfcheck valve in said base member, a removable tubular member threadablysecured to said base member, an enlarged flange on said removabletubular member at its connectingend adapted to prevent it passingthrough the valve stem hole in the metal rim of the tire wheel from thetire side, an indicating scale on said tubular member in juxtapositionwith said indicating member and adapted for indicating the poundspressure, a sliding tubular member loosely mounted within the outer partet said removable tubular member and adapted to be forced across theopening in the said metal walled part et said air chamber by thepressure ot air from the supply tube so as to conduct the supply of airto the inlet connecting with the pneumatic tire, substantially as setforth.

2. A lockable, removable, indicating valve stem of the class describedJrior pneumatic tires and similar fluid containers, compris# ing incombination a base tube member directly connected to the pneumatic tire,a removable tubular member thr-eadably connected to said base tubemember and Drovided with a registering air conduit, an expandable andreducible air chamber within said removable tubular member and havingmetallic walls for its upper part and having walls of expandible elasticrubber or other suitable material lining the rest ot its cavity and saidchamber normally connecting` directly with the air in the said tire, aspring-closed check valve at the outer end of the removable tubularmember adapted to close said air conduit, flat annular pressure ringsupporting and compressing said elastic rubber member against the airres sure from the tire, a pressure spring torcing said pressure ringagainst said air pressure, an indicating scale longitudinally positionedon the side ot said removable tubular member adapted to indicate thepressure within said tire, an indicating member moving with said annularpressure ring in juxtaposition with said scale and adapted to indicatethe` pounds pressure in said tire, and the sliding tube 28, having thehole lil, provided to release the excessive air pressure, substantiallyas set forth.

3. A lockable, removable, pressure indicating, valve stem ot the classdescribed for pneumatic tires for vehicles, comprising in combination abase tube member directly connected to the pneumatic tire, a removabletubularstem member threadably connected to said base tube member andhaving an enlarged integral flange at its connected end adapted toprevent it from passing out through the hole provided for the passage otthe outer end of the valve stem through the rim of the wheel, amale-and-'female-nut member 11, threadably connecting said enlargedintegral vflange 7a with said base tube member 5, a central tube memberi connected to and registering with base tube member 5 and adapted toopen a check valve in member 5 when inserted against bv compressing aclosing spring about the stem of said cheek valve and allowing a directconnection with a registering airway through the length oit the parts otsaid valve stem to the intake valve at its end, a ring-shaped expandiblerubber air sack extending around said tube member 4f and having itsinner upper edge secured air tight to the metal walls of tube member tand having its outer upper edge secured air tight to the inner sur-'face of the outer wall ot the removable stem member and the air in saidair sack being in direct communication with said pneumatic tire Whileattached, a fiat pressure ring actuated by a pressure spring 'forcingthe bottom ot said air sack against the pressure therein and within saidpneumatic tire, and an indexed indicating scale .in juxtaposition tosaid pressure ring positioned to indicate the pounds pressure withinsaid tire by the movements of said pressure ring along said scale.

4t. A lockable, removable, pressure-indieating, valve stem et the classdescribed for pneumatic tires for vehicles, comprising in combina-tion abase tube member `directly connected to the pneumatic tire, a removabletubular stem member connected to said base member indirectly bymeans ofa male-and female nut, a set ser w adapted to lock said nut to saidremovable tubular stem member, a broadened integral flange at the baseof said removable tubular stem member adapted to prevent it vfrom beingremoved out through the hole provided in the wheel rim for the outwardpassage ot the outer end of said valve stem, said male-and-temale nutconnecting said two tube members threadably, a check valve in said basetube member adapted to be closed by a pressure spring and to be openedby pressure from said removable tubular stem member when attach ed tosaid base tube member, said removable tubular stem member comprising acentral tube member threadably connected with said broadened integralflange by said nut, and an upper tube member forming a cap to theinterior of an air chamber by being threadably secured within the upperend of said removable tubular stem member and having a circular air wavcentrally positioned from said air chamber to the outer end of the valvestem, an intake check valve at the outer end ot said upper tube member,and a ring-shaped expandible yrubber air sack extending around saidcentral tube member and having its outer tree edge secured air tight tothe inner wall otV said removable tubular` stem member, and its innerfree wall secured air tight to the outer face of said central tubemember and forming an air chamber in direct communication with thepneumatic tire, a pressure spring actuating pressure against an annularbase member against the bottom et said air sack and causing said basemember to move against the pressure oi the air in said tire and said airsack, and a scale upon which said annular base member indicates thepressure within said tire as it moves, substantially as set forth.

5; In-y e valve stem of.: the class described` havlng aul sur tlghteXpandlble pressure' ehaunber 1n direct eonnnunleetlon Wrtb thepneulnatetire to which itis operatively se- 5T cured, a, metal tube forming the'outersllell of the stem of' said Chamber; a' tubular nut' securedWltlun' thev outer end of sald metal:

tube end forming the dome-top to sadellzunbelge central tube extendingfrom the'base 10' ofl said valve'stem to near' the top of the seiddelne-tepV leaving un open space between itand said tubular nut, a rn;-sl12tpedV eX- pandble rubberar sael; positioned between said centraltube and said outer shell and 15"'l1aVng' its `tree outer upperI edgesecured air-tight to said outer shell and its free-lnner 'upper edgesecured zur tlght'to the outer Wall of'saideentral'tubel andthusforming- I the bottom and nnddle'pztrt' ofsuldexpatnd-` 510 lble'pressure chamber, e' flat ring-'shaped bese member forced` againsttlle'under'bottemoffsadersaek by a pressure spring actlnig agalnst theuur pressure. Wltlun sald sur seek and seldpneunzttle t1re,.e'v1s1blyexposed"pressure'se'afle along-Which said ring` shaped base membermovesindicating the varying. pressure Within said airsaelr: and said tire,und u sldubly mountedV exten'sell tube. positioned in and extendingldown-i ll Werdly trom szud dome-top or sud tubular:

mounted in thev zur4 Way of said tubular nut neurf its outer'end, e'valve shaft member passing;l through said cheek valve and atits lowerend sldebly eurryngsadA extension tube'substzmtially as setf forth,end'for the purposes speeled.

KENNETH BARTON STUART.

